Combination reciprocal and turbine internal-combustion engine



F. E. COVEY.

COMBINATION RECIPROCAL AND TURBINE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.APPLIICATION FILED JUNE 4.1919.

1,340 Patented May 18, 1920.

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FRANK E. CO VEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TOHOWARD L. COVE-Y, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION RECIPROCAL AND TURBINE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1919. Serial No. 301,823.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, FRAnK-E. bovnY,-

' a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Combination Reciprocal and Turbine Internal-CombustionEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination reciprocal and turbine internalcombustion en ine.

ne of the objects of the present invention is to' provide an internalcombustion engine of the reciprocating piston type and in conjunctiontherewithto provide means for utilizing the energy remaining in theexhaust gases when discharging from the cylinders.

Another object of the invention-is to provide a fly-wheel of novelconstruction, on the outer surface of which is formed a series of vanesor pockets, and to so arrange the fly-wheel that the'exhaust gases, whenliberated,'may be directed against the vanes of the wheel in such amanner that an impact and an expanding action may he obtained, therebymaterially increasing the power output and simultaneously obtaining amuifling action. i

Another object ofthe invention is to provide novel means for air coolingthe cylinders and the fly-wheel rim, against which the exhaust gases aredirected.

Further objects willhereinafter appear. The invention consists of theparts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinaftermore fully described and claimed, having reference to Fig. 2is a central vertical cross section through the same. i

Fig. 3 'is a side elevation in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a casing, interior ofwhich is mounted a fly wheel 2. Forming a closure for the casing is apair of head members 3 and 4, and formed in said head members arebearing members 5 for the reception of a crank shaft 6, upon which thefly wheel is secured. The fly wheel is centrally disposed between thecranks indicated at 7 and is entirely inclosed by the casing A and thehead members 3 and 4. Formed on the outer I end of the cylinder is open,

surface of the fly wheel are a series of pockets 8 and formed on eachside of the fly wheel are a plurality of vanes 9, the function of whichwill hereinafter be described. Secured to the casing A in any suitablemanner is an inverted cylinder 10, on the exterior surface of which isformed a plurality of cooling ribs 11. The upper as shown, and each sideis slotted, as at 11, to. permit free movement of a cross head 12, towhich is attached a piston 13. Forming a connection between the crosshead and the crank 7 are a pair of connecting rods 14, one beingilisposed on each side of the cylinder, and disposed in the lower end ofthe cylinder is an inlet valve 15 and an exhaust valve 16. Both valvesshown are of the puppet valve 'type and both are normally maintained ina closed position by means of coil springs 17. The'inlet valve is inthis instance opened by vacuum created in the cylinder during theoutward stroke of the piston while the exhaust valve is mechanicallyopened by means of a rocker arm 18. This rocker arm is pivotally mountedon the head member 3, as at 19, and the lower end is provided with aroller 20 which engages a cam 21 secured on the cam shaft 22, which isdriven in the usual manner at the ratio of 1 to 2, from the crank shaftby means of the spur gears 23.

The engine here shown is intended to operate on the four-cycleprinciple; hence, the gear ratio shown. For the purpose of eflicientlycooling the engine, I form a series of openings 24:, which are arrangedabout the bearing members 5. These openings communicate with the chamberformed within the casing A, thus permitting air to enter said chamberwhen the engine is in operation, an air flow through the chamber beinginduced by the action of the vanes 9 formed on each side of the'flywheel. The air induced is discharged through ports 24 formed at theupper end of each head member 3 and to discharge directly through theport in such a manner that they will impinge against the vanes orpockets formed on the outer surface of the fly wheel. An impact actionis in this manner obtained and also sufficient expansion to graduallyreduce the pressure of the gases. Additionalpower is therefore ained anda silencing or muflilng action is urther obtained as the pressure of thegases, when discharging, is gradually reduced.

In actual 'operation, 1 connect the inlet valve casing 15 with acarbureter or other suitable source of supply. The valve 15 is openedduring the suction stroke of the piston and a charge is thereforeintroduced which is compressed during the return stroke of the piston.This compressed charge is ignited by means of a spark plug 31, thuscausing an explosion or burning of the gases, which causes the piston tobe forced in an outward direction. On the return stroke of the piston,exhaust valve 16 is mechanically opened by means of the cam 21 andtherocker arm 18. The gases are therefore bypassed through the cagecontaining the exhaust valve and are then permitted to escape throughthe port 30 and to discharge and impinge directly against the pockets orvanes formed on the outer surface of the fly wheel. The gases are thencarried around as each pocket is filled, and are finally permitted toescape into a chamber 32, from where they may be discharged through apassage 33 and an exhaust pipe not here shown. The exhaust gasesstriking the outer surface of the fly wheel and more pocketsformedtherein, would-.have a-tendency ,to heat the same and the casingin which it is inclosed. This is, however, obviated in the presentinstance. as the forced circulation of air obtained by the action of thevanes 9 positively cools the fly wheel and also the cylinder mountedabove the same.

at least four cylinders may .be attached thereto. I have, however, onlyillustrated one cylinder but I wish it understood that four cylinders orany suitable number, may be arranged around.th e casing A and that orless filling the the power obtained may be transmitted, first, to thepistons, and secondly, to the rim of the fly wheel, thus materiallyincreasing the.

power output of the engine and simultaneously obtaining a silent andwell-balanced engine, the silent action being obtained due to the factthat exhaust ases are permitted to gradually expand ag inst the.fiywheel before they are finally permitted to discharge.

While the inlet valve is here shown as actuated by the suction of theengine, I wish it understood, that it may be mechanically operated.Similarly, that any suitable fornr of valve mechanism may be providedand also that the materials and finish of the several parts comprisingthe engine may be such as the experience and judgment of themanufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. An internal combustion engine comprising a casing,a rotor journaled therein having a plurality of pockets formed in itsouter face, an inverted cylinder secured to the exterior of the casingand radiallyarranged withrelation thereto, a crankshaft upon which therotor is secured, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder, aconnecting rod connectionbetween the piston and the crank shaft, aninlet and an exhaust valve in the inner end of the cylinder adjacent thecasing, and means for directing the exhaust gases against the pocketsformed in the face of the rotor.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a crank shaft, apiston in the cylinder, means for transmitting reciprocal movement ofthe piston to rotate the crank shaft, arotor on the crank shaft, vanesformed 'on the exterior of the rotor, means for directing the exhaustgases from the cylinder against the vanes on the rotor,

a L r l in the casing, a head member on each side -of the casing forminga closure for the chamber in which the fly wheel is mounted, bearingsformed in said head members, a

crank shaft extending through said bearing members and'supporting thefly wheel,

I said crank shaft having cranks formed at By referring to Figs. 1 and3, 1t will be' seen that the casing'A is so constructed that each endexterior of the head members, a cylinder radially disposed with relationto the casing and the crank shaft, a piston in said cylinder, connectingrods connecting the piston with the-cranks and the shaft, an inlet valveand an exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder, a passage formedthe casing and the with in the casing connecting the exhaust valve achamber formed within the eas- 1ng, and a series of pockets formed onthe surface of the fly wheel against/which the exhaust gases dischargingthrough the passage are adapted to impinge.

4. ,An internal combustion engine comprising a casing, a fly wheelmounted within the casing, a head member on each side of the casingforming a closure for the chamber in which the fly W eel'is mounted,bearingsformed in said h ad members, a crank shaft extending throughsaid bearing members and supporting'the fly wheel, said crank shafthaving cranks formed at eachend exterior of the head members, a cylinderradially disposed with relation to said cylinder, connecting rodsconnecting the piston with the cranks and the shaft, an inlet valve andan exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder, a passage formed inthe casing connecting the exhaust valve with a chamber formed within thecasing, a series of pockets formed on the surface of the fly wheel,against which the exhaust gases discharging through the passage areadapted to impinge, a series of cooling ribs formed on the exteriorsurface of the cylinder, a series of impeller vanes formed on each sideof the flywheel, inlet openings and discharge openings formed in thehead members on each side of the fly wheel, through which air is adaptedto be circulated by the impellers and discharged against the coolingribs on the cylinder.--

5. An internal combustion e ngine com-' prising a casing having achamber formed therein, a head member formed at each end of the casingforming a closure therefor, journal members formed on said! headmembers, acrank shaft extending through the journal members and thechamber, a, .fly wheel secured on the shaft within thechamr, a crankformed on crank shaft exterior of the head members,

an inverted cylinder secured to the casing and radially disposed, apiston in said cylinder, a cross head supporting the piston, a pair ofconnecting rods disposed one at each end of the cross head and forming aconnection between the cranks and the cross head, an inlet and anexhaust valve disposed in the cylinder, a passage connecting the exhaustvalve with the interior ,chamber,

and a series of pockets formed iii the faceof the fly wheel, againstwhich gases are adapted to impinge.

/ 6. An internal prising a casing having a chamber formed therein, ahead member formed at each end of the casing forming a closure therefor,journal members formed onsaid head members, a crank shaft extendingthrough the journal members and the chamber, a fly the exhaust ofconnecting rods crank shaft, a piston in each end of the combustionengine comwheel secured on the shaft within the cham-.

ber, a crank formed on each end of the crank shaft exterior of the headmembers, an inverted cylinder secured to the casing and radiallydisposed, a piston in said cylinder, a cross head supporting the piston,a pair disposed one at each end of the cross head and forming aconnection between the cranks and the cross head, an inlet and anexhaust valve disposed in the cylinder, a passage connecting the exhaustvalve with the interior chamber, and a series of pockets formed in theface of the fly wheel, against which the exhaust gases are adapted toimpinge, inlet and discharge ports formed in the head members on eachside of the fly wheel and a series of impeller vanes formed on each sideof the fly wheel, adapted to induce a flow of air through the chamberformed in the casing and discharge the same upwardly against thecylinder, and cooling ribs formed on the cylinder.

7. An internal combustion engine .comprising a casing, a circularchamber formed therein, a crank shaft'journaled i the casing, a rotor onthe shaft within t ecasing, said rotor having a plurality of pocketsformed" in its outer face, an inverted cylinder supported on the casing,a piston reciprocally mounted therein, means for transmitting thereciprocal movement of the piston to rotate the crank shaft, an exhaustand an inlet valve on the inner end of the cylinder adjacent the casing,and a port,

internal combustion engine com-,

prising a casing having a central chamber formed rotor for inducing anddirecting a cooling current of air.

9. An internal combustion engine com prising a casing, a circularchamber formed therein, a crank shaft journaled inthe casing, a rotor onthe shaft within the casing,

said rotor having a plurality of pockets formed in its outer face, aninverted cylinder supported on the casing, a piston reciprocally mountedtherein, means for transmitting the reciprocal movement of the piston torotate the crank shaft, an exhaust and an inlet valve on the inner endof the cylinder adjacent the casing,

therein, a rotor in said chamber-having pockets formed in its outerperiphery,

the face of the rotor, and means on the sidesof the a port formed in thecasing forming a communication beformed adjacent the head of thecylinder tween the exhaust valve and the chamber through which the airmay be forced outwithin the casing, said port adapted to diwardlyagainst the wall of the cylinder. rect the exhaust gases against thepockets In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 formed in the surfaceof the rotor, means my hand in the presence of two subscribing 15 forliberating the exhaust gases after they Witnesses.

have impinged against the rotor, a plural- FRANK E; COVEY. ity of vanesformed on the interior of the Witnesses: I rotor, inlet ports formed inthecasing ad- JOHN H. HERRING,

10 facent the hub of the rotor, andbutlet'ports THos. CAsTBERG.

